Bracelet with clip comprising electrical connection means

ABSTRACT

The wristband with a clasp ( 1 ) includes electrical connection means ( 2 ) for connection to at least one electric or electronic component ( 23 ). These electrical connection means include an electric connector ( 2 ) arranged in one part of the clasp connected to one end of a wristband strand. The connector is of the universal serial bus type so as to be able to be connected, when the clasp is in the open position, to a connector of complementary shape of an electric apparatus, such as a computer station for carrying out energy and/or data transmission with the electric or electronic component. The connector is protected by a fastening piece ( 6 ) and bellows ( 5 ) when the clasp is in the closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a bracelet or wristband with a clasp comprisingelectrical connection means to be connected to at least one electric orelectronic component. The wristband can advantageously be the wristbandof a portable object, such as a watch. In this case, the electric orelectronic component can be housed in a case of the portable object orin the wristband.

The invention also concerns a wristwatch including a clasp and at leastone electric or electronic component electrically connected toelectrical connection means.

“Electric or electronic components” means any electric or electronicelement for performing certain functions without any limitations. Thismay, for example, be batteries or energy accumulators, and electronic orintegrated circuits.

Two types of clasp are usually used for wristbands or wristwatches. Itmay be a clasp for a so-called open wristband or for a closed wristband.

The clasp for an open wristband conventionally includes a prong and abuckle secured using a stem at the free end of one of the strands of thewristband. The free end of the other strand is passed under the bucklethen secured by the prong which penetrates one of the holes made in saidother strand. A loop could be provided to secure the free end of theother strand.

The clasp for a closed wristband is conventionally of the unfoldingbuckle type. Generally, in its simplest form, the clasp with anunfolding buckle includes a base strip onto which at least one pivotingstrip is capable of folding down. These strips are attached to eachother by one of their ends by means of a hinge. Usually, fasteningmeans, such as a catch device enable the strips to hook onto each otherin the closed position.

Since the wristband or wristwatch are objects that are worn daily on theuser's wrist, it has been proposed to fit them with various electric orelectronic components other than time-keeper circuits for performingcertain functions. They can include components such as accumulators orelectronic circuits particularly for data transmission operations.Electrical connections can also be made between the various componentscarried by the wristband or integrated therein and those contained inthe watchcase.

In order to charge an accumulator or transmit data between an electricalapparatus and at least one electronic circuit arranged in the watchcase,specific electrical connection means sometimes have to be providedthrough the watchcase. It is thus also possible, via this electricalconnection, to electrically charge an accumulator of the watch if theelectrical apparatus is a charger, or to transfer data between theelectronic circuit of the watch and the electric apparatus.

However, these known connection means have no other function thanproviding an electric connection between the electric apparatus and theelectronic component or components. The connection means made throughthe case or on one strand of the wristband are generally detrimental tothe aesthetic appearance of the wristwatch or wristband. Moreover, theconnection means theoretically have to be protected when they are notconnected to the electric apparatus so as not to disturb the electroniccomponent or components that have to perform certain functions.

In this regard, U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,996 can be cited, which discloses anelectronic wristwatch including an electronic circuit in the case andelectrical connection means connected to the electronic circuit. Theseelectrical connection means are formed in particular by electric contactterminals, which are placed under the back cover of the watchcase. Aconnector cap of the connection means is secured under the case toconnect the contact terminals. An electric cable is connected to theconnector cap and ends in a connector in order to activate an electricconnection with an electric apparatus.

One drawback of the wristwatch disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,996 isthat an additional protective element, such as the cap, has to be addedto the back cover of the watchcase in order to electrically connect theelectronic circuit via electric contact terminals of the back cover ofthe case to an electric apparatus. This additional cap increases thethickness of the watch unnecessarily, and is detrimental to theaesthetic appearance of the watch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus an object of the invention to provide a wristband or braceletwith a clasp which includes electrical connection means overcoming thedrawbacks of the aforementioned prior art. The connection means arearranged on the wristband so to not to impair the aesthetic appearanceof said wristband when the wristband is worn on a user's wrist.

The invention therefore concerns a wristband with a clasp, whichincludes the features recited in the appended claims.

One advantage of the wristband with a clasp according to the inventionis that the electric connector is placed in a part of the clasp of awristband to be worn on a user's wrist. Consequently, when the clasp isin the closed position, it can be protected from any mechanical damageor influence of the environment without also impairing the aestheticappearance of said wristband.

The wristband clasp can have an unfolding buckle with a base on whichtwo strips are hinged at each end of the base. The other end of eachstrip is hinged at one end of each strand of the wristband or at bothends of the same wristband strand. When the clasp is in the closedposition, fastening means, such as a conventional catch device, blockone part of each strip in a part of the base. A button, which is forexample arranged on the base, can be activated manually to release thestrips in order to open the clasp. Clasp bellows can also be secured toone end of one wristband strand to close and protect the electricconnector when the clasp is in the closed position.

The electric connector placed at one end of one of the wristband strandsis preferably a connector of the universal serial bus type so that itcan be connected to a computer station connector of complementary shape.

The electronic component can be a non-volatile memory for example aFlash memory, which can contain personal data for the person wearingsaid wristband. The memory can be placed on a flexible or rigid supportdirectly connected to the electric connector.

Preferably, the wristband strand receiving the electric connectorincludes a hollow part from the end connected to the clasp which extendsover at least one portion of the length of the strand. The hollow partis delimited by a top wall and a bottom wall separated by two lateralwalls. One part of the electric connector with the memory support ishoused in a portion of the hollow part. This part of the connector canalso include a through aperture in the transverse direction of thewristband for the passage of a pin for fixing it to the wristband.

Several regularly spaced apertures of circular shape are made on eitherside of the lateral walls of the hollow part of the flexible strand andin the lengthways direction of the wristband. In this way, prior toassembling the part of the connector to be fixed with the wristbandclasp, the size of the wristband can be fitted to the user's wrist bycutting a portion of the hollow part. After this operation, a fixing pinpasses through a sleeve of the clasp, one aperture of each lateral wallof the wristband strand and the aperture of the part of the connector tobe fixed.

The clasp can advantageously include a male part and a female part ofcomplementary shape to the male part so that the male part can beinserted into the female part in the closed position of the wristband.The electric connector of the clasp can be for example the male part.

In the case of a clasp with an unfolding buckle, the base can beextendible. In order to do this, it includes a receptacle and an elementable to slide in part into the receptacle. This element is held in partin the inside of the receptacle by a return spring. A first limb of theclasp is hinged to one end of one part of the element leaving thereceptacle, and a second limb of the clasp is hinged to an opposite endof the receptacle. The first limb is fixed to one end of the firststrand, whereas the second limb is fixed to one end of the secondstrand. The return spring in the receptacle draws the element towardsthe interior of the receptacle so as to close the clasp when theconnector as the male part is inserted into the female part of thesecond strand.

As the male part of the clasp, the electric connector can also includeat least one aperture on an external wall forming part of claspfastening means. One end of a member locking the female part of theclasp is introduced into the aperture of the male part when the clasp isin the closed position. The locking member is rotatably mounted about arotational axis of the female part and can be manually activated againstthe return force of a spring for opening the clasp.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a wristwatch whichincludes electrical connection means that overcomes the drawbacks of theaforementioned prior art. The connection means are arranged on thewristband to avoid detracting from the aesthetic appearance of thewristwatch when it is worn on a user's wrist.

The invention also concerns a wristwatch, which includes the featuresrecited in the appended claims.

The wristwatch can advantageously include in the case an electric orelectronic component other than a time-keeper circuit. The component iselectrically connected by conductive paths through the case and onestrand of the wristband to the electric connector which is arranged in apart of the clasp. When the clasp is in the open position, the connectorcan be connected to a connector of complementary shape of an electricapparatus, such as a computer station for transferring energy and/orone-directional or two-directional data transfer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, advantages and features of the wristband or wristwatch willappear more clearly in the following description of embodiments of theinvention in conjunction with the drawings, in which.

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b show a side view of one part of the wristband having aclasp in position where the unfolding buckle of the clasp is closed anda three-dimensional view of one part of the wristband with the clasp inan open position according to a first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 shows partially the elements of the wristband clasp with theelectric connector in an exploded view prior to the assembly thereof atthe end of the wristband strand of FIGS. 1 a and 1 b,

FIGS. 3 a to 3 c show two side views of one part of the wristband with aclasp in a position where the unfolding buckle of the clasp is open anda side view of one part of the wristband with the clasp in the closedposition according to a second embodiment of the invention,

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show a side view and a top view of one part of thewristband with a clasp with the clasp in the closed position accordingto a third embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of a wristwatch according to the invention,which includes a wristband with a clasp in accordance with FIGS. 4 a and4 b.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, the various mechanical means for openingand closing the clasp of a wristband or wristwatch will not be explainedin detail, since they form part of the general knowledge of thoseskilled in this technical field.

It should be noted that the dimensions of all of the elements of thewristband with a clasp or the wristwatch according to the invention havenot been shown precisely in the Figures. These elements are shown purelyby way of illustration and can thus undergo multiple dimensional changeswithin the scope of the invention.

In FIGS. 1 a and 1 b a first embodiment of the wristband with a clasp 1having an unfolding buckle is shown in a closed position and in an openposition. The wristband can comprise a single strand or two strands 3and 4 if it is used for a wristwatch. The wristband includes a clasp 1of the unfolding buckle type one part of which is secured to one end ofstrand 3 and another part is fixed to one end of strand 4. The other endof each strand, which is not shown, can be conventionally rotatablymounted on the case of a wristwatch. Electrical connection means, suchas an electric connector 2, are placed at the end of strand 3 as part ofthe clasp.

Clasp 1 with an unfolding buckle includes, in particular, an H-shapedrigid base strip and two rigid strips 11 and 12 each hinged to one ofthe respective ends of the base strip. This base strip is formed of twoparallel arms 10 a and 10 b which are separated from each other by acentral bar 17. A first end of each strip 11 and 12 is thus pivotablymounted between the ends of arms 10 a and 10 b each about a rotationalaxis 15 and 16.

A second end of strip 11 is rotatably connected to a sleeve 14 forfixing clasp 1 to one end of strand 3, whereas a second end of the otherstrip 12 is rotatably connected to a fastening piece 6 secured to oneend of strand 4. This fastening piece preferably has a U-shapedtransverse section.

Strips 11 and 12 also include, in a known manner, fastening means thatare not shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b for cooperating with a notch devicearranged between arms 10 a and 10 b when the clasp is in the closedposition. A button 13 of the base strip can be pressed manually in orderfor the pivoting strips to be released from their closed position.

Strand 3 of the wristband includes a hollow part at least at one end onthe clasp side so that electrical connection means 2 can be mounted aspart of the clasp. The hollow part extends over at least one portion ofthe length of strand 3. The hollow part is delimited by a top wall and abottom wall separated by two lateral walls.

Several regularly spaced apertures 21 are made on either side of thelateral walls of the hollow part of the flexible strand and in thelengthways direction of the wristband. Sleeve 14, which includes anaperture on each lateral wall, can be secured to strand 3 by means of apin 20 passing through one of the apertures of each lateral wall of thehollow part in proximity to the end of strand 3. As explained withreference to FIG. 2 strand 3 can be cut so as to fit the size of thewristband to the wrist of a user of said wristband.

The connection means are preferably formed by a universal serial bus orUSB 2. This connector 2 can thus be connected to a connector ofcomplementary shape of an electric apparatus, such as a computerstation, in order to transmit data with a component or electroniccircuit of the wristband.

This connector 2 includes certain electric connection metal conductivepaths 8 which are arranged on a support plate. This support plate isplaced inside a preferably metal tubular part of rectangular transversesection. This tubular part includes apertures 7 arranged above andbelow. These apertures can form part of the fastening means as explainedhereinbefore with reference to FIGS. 4 a and 4 b.

When connector 2 is connected to a connector of complementary shape,particularly a computer station, the metal paths 8 come into contactwith the respective paths of the connector of said computer station. Inthis way, data and/or energy transmission can be achieved between thecomputer station and an electronic component connected to the connector.

One part of electric connector 2 includes a through aperture arranged ina transverse direction to the wristband for the passage of securing pin20. Once the size of strand 3 has been adjusted, the part of connector 2is introduced into the hollow part of strand 3 to be secured with sleeve14 by pin 20 to the end of strand 3. Preferably, the part of connector 2introduced into the hollow part is in contact with the inner surfaces ofsaid hollow part so as to be fixedly secured to the end of strand 3.

In order to protect connector 2 when the clasp is in the closedposition, bellows 5 can be fixed to the end of strand 4. These bellowsare slightly compressed against sleeve 14 in the closed positionenclosing electric connector 2. The closing part 6 surrounds the bellowsand facilitates fastening of the clasp to hold one part of strips 11 and12 against arms 10 a and 10 b.

Of course, closing part 6 and sleeve 14 can include complementaryfastening means that are not shown to replace the fastening means ofstrips 11 and 12 and the notch device. In such case, button 13 is nolonger necessary.

In FIG. 2 the elements of the clasp on the side of strand 3 arepartially shown in an exploded view prior to being finally mounted.

It will be noted that an electronic component, such as a non-volatilememory 23, is fixed to a conductive path support 22. The memory canpreferably be a Flash memory in which personal data can be storedrelating for example to the wristband user. This support is directlyconnected to one end of electric connector 2, which is opposite the endused for connection to an electric apparatus. An electric connection ismade in a known manner between the metal connection lugs of theencapsulated memory and the conductive paths 8 of connector 2.

Several regularly spaced circular apertures 21 are made on each lateralwall of strand 3 for securing the sleeve and the connector at differentpositions on strand 3 using pin 20. Before securing sleeve 14 andconnector 2 to the end of strand 3, it is possible to cut strand 3 so asto adjust the size of the wristband to the user's wrist. Dotted linesare shown on strand 3 in FIG. 2 to show the places where the strand canfor example be cut to adjust the size of the wristband.

After having cut strand 3 to the desired size, sleeve 14 is placedexternally at the end of the hollow part of strand 3 so that apertures24 of the sleeve are opposite an aperture of each lateral wall of thehollow part. The shape of the inner part of the sleeve is adapted tocome into direct contact with the external surfaces of the hollow part.

Support 22 is subsequently introduced into the hollow part until throughaperture 25 of the connector part to be fixed is opposite the aperturesof sleeve 14. Finally, in order to fix this part of the clasp, pin 20can be inserted from one of apertures 24 of sleeve 14 as far as theother aperture 24 passing through the respective apertures 21 of thehollow part and aperture 25 of the connector.

A second embodiment of the wristband with a clasp is shown in FIGS. 3 ato 3 c. The clasp connecting one end of each wristband strand is of theunfolding buckle type.

It should be noted that only those elements of the wristband with aclasp that differ from those described hereinbefore are explained. Theelements of this second embodiment, which are identical to those of thefirst embodiment, bear identical reference numerals.

In this second embodiment, the base of the clasp is extendible. In orderto do this, the base includes a curved receptacle 30 and a curvedelement 31 that can slide in part into the receptacle.

A first limb 33 of the clasp is hinged about a rotational axis 34 at oneend of a part of the element leaving the receptacle, and a second limb32 of the clasp is hinged about a rotational axis 35 at an opposite endof receptacle 30. The first limb 33 is fixed to one end of strand 3,whereas the second limb 32 is fixed to one end of the second strand. Thefirst limb is fixed to strand 3 by a pin 20 passing through an apertureof each lateral wall of strand 3 in proximity to the end thereof whereelectric connector 2 is mounted.

Return spring 36 in the receptacle pulls element 31 towards the insideof the receptacle so as to close the clasp when connector 2 as the malepart is inserted into a compartment 37 forming the female part at theend of strand 4. Given that receptacle 30 and sliding element 31 arecurved, the compartment has to be of sufficient size to avoid damagingthe electric connector when it is introduced into or removed from saidcompartment.

In FIG. 3 a, the clasp is completely open with element 31 compressingthe return spring in receptacle 30. This return spring can be acompression spring. Of course, this position of the clasp is obtainedmanually by pulling on each element 33 and 34 to compress said spring36. In order to be able to close said clasp, limbs 33 and 32 have to befolded down onto the side of the receptacle and the sliding element asshown by the arrows.

In FIG. 3 b, limbs 32 and 33 are shown folded down on the side ofreceptacle 30 and sliding element 31. In this open position, electricconnector 2 is directed towards compartment 37 which has to receive it.The arrow indicates the movement of connector 2 in direction ofcompartment 37 in order to close the clasp.

Finally in FIG. 3 c, the wristband clasp is mounted in a closed positionwith the electric connector which acts as the male part housed incompartment 37 acting as the female part. Return spring 36 maintainsthis closed position without any manual action on one or other limb 32or 33.

A third embodiment of the wristband with a clasp is shown in FIGS. 4 aand 4 b with the clasp in the open position. The wristband of this thirdembodiment is of the open type, i.e. in the open position, the part ofthe clasp fixed to the end of strand 3 is separated from the part of theclasp fixed to the end of strand 4.

As previously, only those elements of the wristband with a clasp whichdiffer from those described hereinbefore are explained in detail. Theelements of this third embodiment, which are identical to those of thefirst and second embodiments, bear the same reference numerals.

A rigid sleeve 44 is mounted at the end of the hollow part of strand 3,as well as the electric connector 2 of the universal serial bus type inorder to form a male part of the clasp. This sleeve 44 is placed on theexternal surfaces of the hollow part, whereas a part of connector 2 withsupport bearing the electronic component is introduced into the hollowpart.

As explained with reference to FIG. 2, a securing pin 20 passes throughapertures of sleeve 44, one aperture of each lateral wall at the end ofstrand 3 and one through aperture made in the electric connector.Preferably, the part of connector 2 introduced into the hollow part isin contact with the inner surfaces of said hollow part so as to befixedly held at the end of strand 3.

In this third embodiment, apertures 7 of electric connector 2 acting asthe male part form part of the clasp fastening means.

The other female part of the clasp is fixed to the end of strand 4. Thisfemale part of the clasp includes a securing unit 45 in which a cavity43 is made of complementary shape to the connector to receive the latterin the closed position of the clasp. A locking member 46 is rotatablymounted in unit 45 about a rotational axis 40 arranged transversely tothe wristband. Two hooks 46 a at the front end of the locking memberform part of the clasp fastening means, able to be introduced into theconnector apertures in the closed position of the clasp. The back partof this member arranged outside securing unit 45 can be manuallyactivated against the return force of a spring that is not shown foropening the clasp. A back stop element of the locking member comes intocontact with an inner stop element of securing unit 45 to hold thelocking member in a closed position owing to the force of the spring.

FIG. 5 shows a wristwatch 50 provided with a wristband of the typedescribed with reference to FIGS. 4 a and 4 b. The wristwatch includesselection buttons 51 arranged around case 53, a watch movement ortime-keeper circuit inside its case 53, and an electric or electroniccomponent 52. A connection path bus 54 connects the metal paths ofelectric connector 2 in a known manner to the electric or electroniccomponent placed inside the case. When the clasp is in the openposition, the electric connector 2 can be connected to a connector ofcomplementary shape of an electric apparatus, such as a computer stationor a charger for carrying out data and/or electric energy transmission.

From the description that has just been given, multiple variants of thewristband with a clasp or wristwatch can be devised by those skilled inthe art without departing from the scope of the invention defined by theclaims. The wristband may comprise only the electrical connection meanswith conductive paths integrated in one of the wristband strands toestablish an electric connection with a component housed in a case of aportable object. The wristband may be formed by a single strand at theends of which the clasp is placed with the electric connector. Thiselectric connector can be of a different type to a universal serial busand can be fixed without a sleeve directly to the end of one of thestrands, which has no hollow part or apertures on the lateral walls.

1. A wristband with a clasp including electrical connection means forelectrical connection to at least one electric or electronic component,the electrical connection means including an electric connector arrangedin one part of the clasp, said connector being configured so as to beable to be connected, when the clasp is in the open position, to aconnector of complementary shape of an electric apparatus to carry outdata and/or electric energy transmission with at least one electric orelectronic component, wherein the electric connector fixed to one end ofa strand of the wristband forms a male part of the clasp, which iscovered when the clasp is in the closed position by a fastening piece ofanother end of the same strand or an end of another wristband strand,and wherein bellows of the clasp are fixed to the other end of thewristband strand or the end of the other wristband strand underneath thefastening piece to enclose and protect the electric connector when theclasp is in the closed position with the bellows slightly compressedagainst a sleeve fixed to the end of the wristband strand with theelectric connector.
 2. The wristband according to claim 1, wherein theelectric connector defines an electric connector of the universal serialbus type so as to be able to be connected to a connector ofcomplementary shape of a computer station for data transfer.
 3. Thewristband according to claim 1, wherein it includes the electric orelectronic component electrically connected to the electric connector.4. The wristband according to claim 1, wherein the clasp includes a malepart formed by the connector, which can be inserted into a female partwhen the clasp is in the closed position.
 5. The wristband according toclaim 4, wherein the female part of another end of the same wristbandstrand or one end of another strand of the wristband includes a cavityof complementary shape to the electric connector.
 6. The wristbandaccording to claim 1, wherein the clasp of the unfolding buckle typeincludes a base, and two strips or two limbs each hinged to an oppositeend of the base, the first strip or the first limb being connected tothe end of a first wristband strand, whereas the second strip or thesecond limb is connected to the end of a second wristband strand, andwherein the electric connector is fixed to the end of the firstwristband strand.
 7. The wristband according to claim 6, wherein theextending type base includes a receptacle and an element able to slidein part into the receptacle, the element being held in part inside thereceptacle by a return spring in the direction of a closed position ofthe clasp, wherein the connector is fixed to one end of the first strandwith one part of the first limb, and wherein the second limb is fixed toone end of the second strand, which includes the cavity of complementaryshape to the connector to receive the latter in the closed position. 8.The wristband according to claim 6, wherein the base includes twoparallel arms separated by a central bar, one end of the first stripbeing hinged between the arms at one end of the arms, whereas one end ofthe second strip is hinged between the arms to a second opposite end ofthe arms, wherein the other end of the first strip is rotatablyconnected to a sleeve fixed on exterior surfaces of the first strand,whereas the other end of the second strip is rotatably connected to afastening piece fixed to one end of the second strand, this fasteningpiece covering the electric connector when the clasp is in the closedposition, wherein the fastening means are provided in the base and onthe strips to lock one part of each strip into the base in the closedposition, and wherein an unlocking button mounted on the base can beactivated manually to release the strips from their closed position. 9.The wristband according to claim 1, wherein the electronic component isa non-volatile memory in which personal data can be stored, the memorybeing placed on a support fixed directly to the electric connector andelectrically connected to conductive paths of the connector.
 10. Thewristband according to claim 1, wherein the first wristband strandreceiving the electric connector includes a hollow part from the freeend of the clasp which extends over at least one portion of the lengthof strand, this hollow part being delimited by a top wall and a bottomwall separated by two lateral walls, and wherein one part of theelectric connector with the memory support is housed and fixed into oneportion of the hollow part.
 11. The wristband according to claim 10,wherein several apertures of circular shape are regularly spaced oneither side of the lateral walls of the hollow part of the flexiblestrand and in the lengthways direction of the wristband so that the sizeof the strand can be adjusted to a user's wrist.
 12. The wristbandaccording to claim 10, wherein the part of the connector to be fixed canalso include, in a transverse direction to the wristband, a throughaperture for the passage of a pin to be secured to the wristband, andwherein a sleeve placed on the external surfaces of the hollow part isfixed using the pin with the electric connector, said securing pinpassing through one aperture of each lateral wall of the wristbandstrand in proximity to the end of said strand.
 13. The wristbandaccording to claim 4, wherein the connector of the universal serial bustype includes at least one aperture on an external wall for cooperatingwith at least one hook of a locking member of a securing unit of thefemale part of the clasp in order to hold the clasp in the closedposition when the connector is housed in a cavity of complementary shapeof the securing unit, one part of the locking member outside thesecuring unit being able to be activated manually in order to open theclasp.
 14. A watch including a wristband with a clasp according to claim1, the wristwatch having at least one electric or electronic componentelectrically connected to electric connection means of the wristband,the electric connection means including an electric connector arrangedin one part of the clasp, said connector being configured so as to beable to be connected, when the clasp is in the open position, to aconnector of complementary shape of an electric apparatus to carry outelectric energy and/or data transmission, wherein the electric connectorfixed to one end of one wristband strand forms the male part of theclasp, which is covered when the clasp is in the closed position by afastening piece of another end of the same strand or one end of anotherstrand of the wristband, and wherein bellows of the clasp are fixed toone end of the second wristband strand underneath the fastening piece toenclose and protect the electric connector when the clasp is in theclosed position with the bellows slightly compressed against a sleevefixed to the end of the wristband strand with the electric connector.15. The watch according to claim 14, wherein the electronic component isa non-volatile memory placed inside the case of the watch, the componentbeing electrically connected to the electric connector placed in onepart of the clasp by a connection path bus, and wherein the electricconnector defines a universal serial bus type connector so as to be ableto be connected to a connector of complementary shape of a computerstation for data transfer.
 16. A wristband with a clasp includingelectrical connection means for electrical connection to at least oneelectric or electronic component, the electrical connection meansincluding an electric connector arranged in one part of the clasp, saidconnector being configured so as to be able to be connected, when theclasp is in an open position, to a connector of complementary shape ofan electric apparatus to carry out data and/or electric energytransmission with at least one electric or electronic component, whereinthe electric connector fixed to one end of a strand of the wristbandforms a male part of the clasp, which is covered when the clasp is inthe closed position by a fastening piece of another end of the samestrand or an end of another wristband strand, wherein the wristbandstrand receiving the electric connector includes a hollow part from thefree end of the clasp which extends over at least one portion of thelength of said strand, this hollow part being delimited by a top walland a bottom wall separated by two lateral walls, wherein one part ofthe electric connector with the memory support is housed and fixed intoone portion of the hollow part, and wherein several apertures ofcircular shape are regularly spaced on either side of the lateral wallsof the hollow part of the flexible strand and in the lengthwaysdirection of the wristband so that the size of the strand can beadjusted to a user's wrist and allow fixing of the electric connector.